Vapor electric device



. Aug. 24, 1948; A. P. coLAlAco 2,447,637

VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICE Filed. July 26, 1947 13 3g 17 I/ 14 7 I I I v V ///A 3% 1 ,6 1. A

INVENTOR Hugusf I? Cola/ace.

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 24, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICE August P. Colaiaco, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 26, 1947, Serial No. 763,819

.6 Claims. 1

My invention relates to a vapor electric device, and particularly to a vapor electric device to be mounted on a moving platform which will be subject to shock, for example, such devices as locomotives and seagoing vessels.

In the operation of vapor electric devices on moving platforms, great difiiculty has been experienced in maintaining the liquid cathode in proper operating position in the container. This is true particularly because the device is subject to motion of various kinds in various directions.

Primarily, the cathode device will be subject to inclination in various degrees in various directions. For instance, on shipboard, the roll of the ship will produce a lateral inclination which may sometimes amount to 45 from the vertical, and the pitch of the ship may produce a forward and reverse inclination of as much as 15. At sea, storms produce extreme vibrations and, in the event of naval vessels, shock may be produced by explosions of guns on board or by the impact of shells or other missiles striking the vessels.

In a railway locomotive, inclination will be produced by track grades and by turning moments at corners and other places. In addition to these relatively minor angular inclinations, the tubes are frequently subject to shock. For example, in railway operations, the locomotive may be subject to severe braking operations or may contact relatively heavy objects at fair speed.

It has heretofore been proposed to build the cathode of a converter as a relatively deep cathode dish with the top edges elevated various amounts in various directions so that the expected inclination will not cause the cathode material to spill over the edge of the lip. It has also been found desirable to provide a relatively enlarged portion in the cathode dish at the normal operating level so that the evaporation of the operating vapor does not excessively reduce the level of the cathode material in the dish. I have found that these measures, alone, are inadequate, particularly when the converter may be subject to relatively severe shocks. Thus, the entire cathode material may be lost from the cup and deposited in some other portion of the container and require an appreciable time interval to return to its operating position.

I have found that a damping device may be placed in the cathode material which has very little, if any, effect on the normal movements of the cathode material but which substantially immobilizes the cathode material when it attempts movement at a high rate of speed.

I have further found that, in shock, cathode material tends to flow along the vertical wall of the converter vessel, and I have found that migration of the cathode material may be effectively controlled by placing a baffle along the wall of the container in such a position that it impedes the flow of liquid upwardly along the container wall while allowing any condensed material to rapidly flow downwardly across the barrier. It is also desirable to provide a bafiie between the cathode and the anode which is rigidly maintained and will prevent direct migration of cathode material through the space between the cathode dish and the anode,

I have further found that the unpredictable splashing about of portions of the cathode liquid tend to carry impurities into the cathode and that these impurities frequently result in the improper operation of the device. I have accordingly provided a barrier for segregating impurities from the mercury returning to the oathode dish.

It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to provide a vapor electric device the operation of which will be maintained regardless of shock applied to the device.

It is a further object of my invention to provide means for inhibiting the movement of cathode material from the cathode dish in response to shock.

It is a further object of my invention to pro- I vide a vapor electric valve in which the cathode material is maintained in a substantially operating position.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation partially in section of a vapor electric device embodying my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail taken in the direction of the arrows 11-11 of Fig. 1.

In the exemplary embodiment of my invention, the vapor electric valve comprises a metallic container l which may be substantially evacuated and in which there are a plurality of 00- operating electrodes.

The anode 2 constructed of graphite, or other suitable material, is mounted in an upper portion of the container by a conducting stem 3 and mounted in insulated relation thereto by a vacuum-proof seal 4. The anode 2 is preferably surrounded by a plurality of anode shields which may, or may not, have potentials applied thereto ticularly it is frequently desirable to make the working faces as segments of spheres-tosecure maximum mechanical strength and maximum area of arc openings 8.

In the bottom portion of the container l, is a pool of cathode liquid if! contained in a relatively narrow and deep cathode dish l i set within the bottom l2 of the container 5.

In order to permit various angles of -inclina-- tion in different directions without spilling the cathode liquid ill, the variousportions of the upper edge of the cathode dish ii are elevated diiferent distances above the normal surface'of the cathode material 59. illustrated embodiment, the sides l3 and i l of thecathode dish i! are materially elevated so thatthe tube 1 maybe inclined laterally through approximately 30 without spilling over the edge of the cup H, while the forward portion E5 of the cup ii is cut away so that only a relatively small inclination is permissible in that direction.

Preferably, the cup I l is set into the bottom I2 of the container so that the forward or lowermost portion 5'5 of the rim is flush with the bottom ll! of the container l.

Since a relatively narrow cathode-dish H is used, it has been found that evaporating the cathode material Iii to supply the normal working vapor or the, device frequently excessivelyreduces the level of the materialremaining in the dish H. portion 96 adjacent the normal working- .level of the cathode material ill and preferably so proportioned that when the tube is cold and in: operative, the cathode material and, during normal operating conditions, the cathode level willbe somewhere intermediate the extremities of the-enlarged portion.

Since the cathode material if] condenses on all portions in the container l and flows back into the cathode dish I I, I have provided a strainer or dirt-barrier ll'in the form of a bafile substantially conforming to the cathode dish 9 l and laterally spaced from the wall thereof, buthaving the portion l3 extend slightly above the lowermost edge 55 of the top of the cathode dish N. Then, as the cathode material It] flows into-the cathode cup H, it will flow downwardly between the barrier H and the inside of the cup I i so that any dirt will be collected between the barrier H and the walls of the cup I! while relatively clean mercury willflow downwardly and under the bottom end IQ of the barrier I? and into the active portion of the cathode.

To prevent sudden migration of the cathode material W in response to shock, I have provided. an impedance or baffle so in the form of a plurality of superposed layers of metallicmesh 2i, firmly anchored below the normal operating surface of the cathode material it. It is desirable to use a cathode impedance 2bthrough which the cathode material I@ will readily flow at normal speeds, but which offers a high impedance to the flow of cathode material, It) zit-high;

For example, in the For this reason, I have provided a large 7 ill -'will beat the upper edge of the enlarged portion i6;

I cathode region.

velocity. For example, if the cathode material It) is mercury, I have found that wire screen 2! having twelve mesh to the inch and composed of thirty-two mil molybdenum wire ofiers almost no impedance to the normal flow of the mercury, but maintains it substantially immobile in the event of sudden shock. A plurality of these screens 2| have been found necessary or desirable, the number used in the impedance 20 depending on the severity of the shock that may be encountered.

In order to initiate operation of the device, a plurality of make-alive electrodes 25, one of which is shown, are inserted, the tips extending into thecathode liquid and preferably some of 'the screens 2! are at least partially cut away or perforated to provide a portion to receive the tip of the make-alive electrodes 25. Preferably, these electrodes 25 are placed on the axis of the major motion or, in other words, in the portion of the cathode surface least subject to variation.

downwardl inclined, is welded to the sides ofthe container l between the region of the cathode,-

and the region of the anode so that the cathode i material iii will not migrate far from the cathode dish E l and will be rapidly returned so that, even in the event of severe shock, little if any of the cathode material M) will migrate awayfrom-the. A cathode shield or bafile 3| is 1" provided of such dimensions that it optically obscures the anode shield 1 from the active cathode surface. Preferably, this shield 3! is directly mounted on the baille ring 3!! by means of a plurality of metallic supports 32 directly welded to the baffie ring 38. While, of course, any firm; and secure mounting may be utilized, I have found that directly mounting the bafiie 3| Orr-the bafiie ring 30 has provided an extremely firm and 1 secure mounting which effectively controls mi gration of loose cathode material into the anode I region.

As the cathode material is of considerable weight, it is necessary to firmly secure the metallic mesh to prevent itsbeing torn loose by the inertia of the cathode material, ill For, doing this, I have provided a mounting in the form of blocks 35 rigidly secured to the dirtbarrier H which, in turn, is rigidly supported in the cathode dish I! by means of spacer blocks 31 and screws 38 while the bottom I!) of barrier H is supported by guide blocks 39. I have supplied.

U-bo1ts 36 extending through the mesh material 2| and firmly secured to the blocks 35, I have found that these U-bolts Bdfirmly support the mesh material 2| and prevent distortion thereof. While, for purposes of illustration, I have shown and described a specific embodimentof my invention, it will be apparent that changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the true spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claimas m invention:

1. A vapor electric valve comprising a substantiallyevacuated container, an anode secured in insulated relation in the top portion of said container, a plurality of shields about said anode,. a cathode dish of less,,diameter than the container, a pool of cathode liquid in said dish, the top of said dish being elevated various amounts in For example, in'the tube illustrated; the maximum motion is sideways so that only various directions so that it may be inclined in various directions without spilling the cathode liquid, a baflie of metallic mesh submerged in the cathode liquid, said mesh offering low impedance to normal flow of cathode material but ofiering high impedance to sudden flow thereof, a baffle rigidly supported between the cathode and the anode, and an annular baflle secured to the container between said first-mentioned baffle and the anode region.

2. A vapor electric valve comprising a substantially evacuated container, an anode secured in insulated relation in the top portion of said container, a plurality of shields about said anode, a cathode dish of less diameter than the container, a pool of cathode liquid in said dish, the top of said dish being elevated various amounts in various directions so that it may be inclined in variious directions without spilling the cathode liquid, a bafiie of metallic mesh submerged in the oathode liquid, said mesh offering low impedance to normal flow of cathode material but offering high impedance to sudden flow thereof, a bafile rigidly supported between the cathode and the anode, an annular baflle secured to the container between said first-mentioned bafile and the anode region, a plurality of make-alive electrodes cooperating with said cathode, said make-alive electrodes being on the axis of maximum movement of the cathode material.

3. A shockproof cathode construction for a vapor electric device having a container enclosing in spaced insulated relation an anode and a pooltype cathode, said cathode comprising a cathode pool, said cathode pool being retained in a relatively narrow and deep cathode dish, said dish having a contoured top to prevent spilling of the cathode material and means intermediate the ends thereof for maintaining the mercury level substantially constant during operation of the device, a dirt-collecting baffle secured adjacent the sides of the dish, said baffle conforming in shape to the shape of the dish, a screen readily passable by slowly flowing cathode material but offering high impedance to rapid motion of the cathode material, said screen being anchored below the normal surface of the cathode material.

4. In a vapor-electric valve a cathode comprising a deep cathode dish, a pool of cathode material in said dish, a substantially cylindrical barrier in said dish and spaced from the sides thereof, means for attaching said barrier rigidly to the sides of said cup, a plurality of layers of wire mesh rigidly supported in said pool of cathode material below the normal level thereof.

5. A vapor-electric valve comprising a container, a plurality of cooperating electrodes therein, one of said electrodes being a pool-type cathode, a deep relatively narrow cathode dish receiving said cathode, a barrier rigidly attached in spaced relation to the sides of the cathode dish, a plurality of layers of metallic screen rigidly supported in said cathode in proximity to the normal working surface thereof.

6. A vapor-electric valve comprising a container, a plurality of cooperating electrodes therein, one of said electrodes being a pool-type cathode, a deep relatively narrow cathode dish receiving said cathode, a barrier rigidly attached in spaced relation to the sides of the cathode dish, a plurality of layers of metallic screen rigidly supported in said cathode in proximity to the normal working surface thereof, a rigidly supported shield interposed between the surface of the cathode and the anode and an annular baffle connected to the wall of the container between the anode and cathode regions.

AUGUST P. COLAIACO'. 

